San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-01-19
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 10 1887.

give legislators at Austin no end Of an
noyance this session. II the move for
uniform system Of text books is carried
into law. every publishing house west
OF the Mississippi will descend on the
text book committee like the AssyriaDs,
OF B ron's poem. on the tents Of lsrael.
The need of such a system OF school
books as will meet the educational
wants OF this state is severely felt by
practical educators. The amount now
spent on school books is a tax upon ed
urrtion very largely 10 excess OF all the
necessities of the case. By publishing
her own text books and furnishing them
to the state schools at cost. n saving OF
at least fifty per cent would be effected.
Not only so, n uniform system would be
established. which would greatly facili-
tate the work of teachers and school
suprrintendents and normal directors
and examiners. In introducing such a
system Texas will not consult her inter-
ests by putting the work in foreign
hands. The men into whose hands this
work may be safely intrusted can be
found among our state educators, and
our publishing houses can do the me-
chanical part of the work as well as II
can be done anywhere.
Gov. HILL does not make presidential
capital for himself. He came into Office
blinded by the unreal dazzle of Cleve-
lands unsccountsble political success,
and imagined that the presidential bau-
Bile, which had so accidentally fallen
into Cleveland's hands as governor Of
New York, was within his own reach.
This idea OF Gov. Hill has dominated all
his acts since he became governor OF
New York, and has betrayed him into the
acts Of ''shifiy politician" so unmis-
takaUly that the severest criticism is be-
ing passed upon his political acts by his
own political psrtisans. Whoever may
or may not be Cleveland's rival for the
democratic nomination, it Is quite GER
tain that Gov. Hill, of New York will
not be the man.
The plan proposed, OF working con-
yicts for short terms on the public high
ways, while meeting with very general
approval throughout the state, seems to
have awakened the opposition OF the
penitentiary managers. 1t is intimated
that some ofthese gentlemen who have
such deep interest in the convict labor
fthe state are coming to Austin to ar
ray themselves against the passage Of
the proposed bill. Men naturally kick
where their own self interests are at
stake. The people Of Texas however
have too much at issue In the convict
question to allow the pecunisry gains OF
few parties TO stand in the way Of the
passage OF very necessary measure Of
relief. Should the members Of the state
legislature forget that their first duty is
to carry out the will Of their coDstitu-
ents they will see that the reckoning
to follow will not be a very pleasant
one. Texas wants to try this expert
ment Of putting short time convicts on
the county roads under county direction,
and see what will be the result. The
men who defeat that manifest desire of
the state will have TO answer for their
disregard Of the public will.
COMPETITION Is the life of trade. So
thought the parsons who entered into
lively competition for the office of house
chaplain in the Arkansas legislature.
Miller, the Methodist candidate, fairly
busted the coat Of his Baptist rival,
Hayes, who, Notwithstanding his name,
was not counted In. The ungodly and
the sinners stood afar off looking at the
holy competition, wondering would
there be as hot rivalry for seat in the
New Jerusalem.
JOHN SwISroN, though generally en-
dorsing Henry Georges views on econo-
mic questions, takes issue with him In
his attack upon the clergy Of the Catho-
lie church. Swinton is of opinion that
advocates Of labor rights should steer
clear Of all complications and quarrels
with the church. Not that Swinton Isa
defender of historic Christianity by any